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This page explains what governing bodies, standards bodies and researchers publish. It is not a substitute for lessons from a qualified coach, for a qualified armourer's checks or for medical advice.
An aid, not a ruling
This tool compares numbers you type in with three limits in the FIE Material Rules (August 2026): total length, blade length and weight. It does not check blade flexibility, curve, the tip, the guard, the wiring, the steel or the homologation mark, which the rules also set and which the officials check at weapon control. National and youth competitions can set different rules, including shorter blade sizes for children.
Check a weapon
The limits the tool uses
All figures are from the FIE Rules for Competitions, Book 3, Material Rules, dated August 2026.
| Weapon | Total length | Blade length | Weight ready for use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foil | At most 110 cm (m.7) | At most 90 cm (m.8.4) | Less than 500 g (m.6) |
| Epee | At most 110 cm (m.15) | At most 90 cm (m.16.3) | Less than 770 g (m.14) |
| Sabre | At most 105 cm (m.21) | At most 88 cm (m.23.1) | Less than 500 g (m.22) |
What the tool does not check
- Blade flexibility and curve. The Material Rules set a range of bend for each weapon (m.8.5, m.16.5 and m.23.4) and limits on any curve (m.8.6, m.16.2 and m.23.3), measured in a way the rules define. Officials test these; the tool does not ask for them.
- The tip, the guard, the grip, the wiring and the steel. The rules require maraging steel at all three weapons (m.2.1) and set the tip pressures, the guard sizes and the electrical rules for each weapon.
- Youth and national rules. National bodies set their own rules for children and club competitions, including shorter blade sizes, and they can differ from the FIE's. See youth equipment levels and national equipment rules.
- Wheelchair fencing, which has its own rules.